Minnesota Vikings are giving Justin Jefferson the rookie treatment

Former LSU football wide receiver Justin Jefferson will hope to make an impact with the Minnesota Vikings as a rookie.

The Minnesota Vikings selected former LSU football wide receiver Justin Jefferson in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the expectation that he’d step into the role that was vacated when Stefon Diggs was traded to the Buffalo Bills.

That may end up being the case, but for now, it’s not Jefferson in that role.

Instead, it’s second-year wide receiver Bisi Johnson that’s stepped into the Diggs role, taking most of the first-team reps opposite Adam Thielen.

Johnson, a seventh-round pick in 2019, caught 31 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last season. It shouldn’t be entirely surprising that Johnson is ahead of Jefferson on the depth chart at this time, considering the difference in experience.

But I wouldn’t expect the depth chart to stay this way.

Justin Jefferson is too good to be the Vikings’ No. 3 wide receiver

The Vikings drafted Jefferson to be a big part of their offense in 2020. And there’s nothing so far to indicate that he’s not capable of making a big impact as a rookie.

“It’s very encouraging. He’s exactly what we drafted,” said Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak this week when discussing Jefferson (via ESPN).

“A very good route runner … when you sit there and talk routes and stuff, this kid’s very knowledgeable. He’s been coached by some good coaches before he got here,” added Kubiak.

It’s clear the Vikings like what they see from Jefferson. And I think they already know he’s going to be their No. 2 wide receiver in 2020.

Minnesota just wants to Jefferson work for it a bit. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just life in the NFL.

But anyone who knows Jefferson knows he isn’t afraid of working hard. It probably won’t be long before Jefferson overtakes Johnson on the depth chart.